The World

Soviet observers have invoked the right to inspect the crucial stages of a major NATO winter exercise in northern Norway involving 14,000 troops at 36 hours' notice. It was the first time such a right has been demanded on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's northern flank. Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokesman Lasse Seim said Norway was told of the Soviet demand on Friday night and that the inspection team will fly to northern Norway from Leningrad this morning. The right of "inspection on challenge" for military maneuvers was agreed to at the 35-nation Conference on European Security and Cooperation in Stockholm two years ago.